petting

American  

[pet-ing] / ˈpɛt ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of fondling or caressing.

   Petting or massage may help calm a stressed or hyperactive dog.

2. Informal.  kissing, caressing, and other sexual activity between partners that does not involve sexual intercourse.

3. the present participle of pet.

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Etymology

Origin of petting

First recorded in 1870–75; pet ¹ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The next morning, I wandered into a local yarn store called The Dropped Stitch and found myself petting skeins of mohair in colors with edible names: “tarragon,” “licorice,” “pumpkin spice.”

From Salon

Valor Memorial Park stands as a kind of petting zoo for tributes to the moral sewage of Lost Cause mythology.

From Los Angeles Times

One cannot tell if a cow’s milk is safe by petting the animal.

From Salon

To prevent transmission, experts recommend owners practise good hygiene, including washing their hands after petting their dog or cat and after handling their waste.

From BBC

For dogs, it looks like a gentle petting session.

From Los Angeles Times

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